Bill Hagan
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Posts posted by Bill Hagan
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8 hours ago, Joe said:
“It’s like Burning Man. Without the smells”
Classic Doc, what a great “idea”
I had to look up that “Burning Man” reference.I then saw that "smells" at one had nothing to do with the other.A noncombatant in the sexual and other revolutions of the '60's and '70's, I have never been into druidical gatherings of the Burning Man sort, tho my parents, both closet bohemians and hippies, would have loved to attend the early ones at least.For me, however, the term evoked another “burning man,” and I was puzzled by the connection until I did the wikipedia thing and learned about about the one @docc mentioned.The "Dead Man’s Corner” in my head was this:
I visited that spot in May 2018 with five other Old Flatulent paratroopers like me who, at least in our fading memories, “were soldiers once … and young.”
We toured several battlefields and cemeteries where, in particular, our “alma mater,” the 82d Airborne Division, the 101st, and other airborne formations had fought in WWII. Many are still there.
As I started my Army life as a tanker, and my father was an armored crewman in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy in that unpleasant international event of ’39 - ‘45, I was especially drawn to the affair at Dead Man's Corner.By now, if still reading, here’s that story:God bless all those brave folks.Feeling (somewhat) apologetic for thread drift, Joe & others, I did do some Guzzi-sightseeing, too. Met these folks at a rest area at a rest area:
And stopped here to kick tires:
Jaap was, regrettably, vacationing in the UK when I was near his home Nijmegen/Arnhem, of “A Bridge Too Far” fame, so we couldn’t link up.Ciao,Bill
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On 2/23/2023 at 11:14 PM, ScuRoo said:
Enjoying the merits of equine aids but…
a 6’ drop’ll work
Probably much less for a horse!
The U.S Army once had a field manual for executions.
In quintessential Army form, there was a depiction of a circle on white paper for firing squads. For hangings, a "drop chart" listed various possible weights of the prospective condemned withcorresponding feet to drop. Adhering to the guidance ensured breaking the perps' neck without decapitating heads!
Behind every such rule there is almost always a "bad example."
Bill
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47 minutes ago, al_roethlisberger said:
Wow, you have an amazing place Bill, really beautiful.
And I envy those multiple finished garages!
Where in Virginia are you located BTW... curious how from from Sanford, NC you are in case I consider coming up for one of these one day.
And as an aside, that motorcycle carrier on the rear of the truck is really a cool gadget!
You are kind, Al; we do love our home and its location. It is a dramatic change from our previous place in downtown Atlanta.
As for location, I guess you could not decipher my "Above Pott's Camp along Braddock's route, Virginia" location below my avatar. Well, had you done so, you'd have been the first!
Anyway, despite our strangely gerrymandered "Winchester" zip code, we live 12 miles to the NW of that town on US 522 between Gainesboro and Cross Junction, both of which have about four stop signs to the collective credit!
In any event, you are welcome to visit anytime. We always have a spare bedroom for visiting Guzzisti. And, we will be housesitting for our (Wendell) N.C. kids in April, so I may ride your way and say howdy then.
Bill
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Every February for the past several years, I have invited Guzzisti — and, now and then, even a worthy Other Brander
— to “Moto Grappa Tech Days” here at the top of Virginia.
[If bored beyond the telling, you may find pix of previous events somewhere in the bowels of this forum.]
This year’s event was last weekend, tho the run-up started before that, and shooting the wounded extended it until Tuesday. Kathi (who escaped during the time to one set of our grands in N.C.) would say that recovery operations are still ongoing!
In many respects, MGTD are way more about beer, bourbon, food, & BS than any real "tech" work, but the gatherings are great fun.
As I usually do, I have these on Smugmug in “landscape collage” form. That way, they all open in collected thumbnails first.
You can then hover your cursor over the individual pix to read, if desired, the captions.
You can make the pix bigger and see (again, if you wish) all of captions in larger text size if you select the slideshow option and let it roll.
Here they are:
Bill
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8 hours ago, al_roethlisberger said:
I hear ya...
2002, sooo long ago
I have three other "vehicle" projects that have priority before I get to the Lemans.
1) 1980 Schwinn Suburban rehab
2) 1997 Jaguar XJR rehab, and likely sale. It's been sitting for all of the pandemic and needs fuel pumps, traction control, and some other work.
3) 2006 Saab 93 Aero Convertible, also getting ready for sale, and sitting for most of the pandemic. Needs some notable work.
Once those are out of my way, I can start making lists for the Lemans. It has been sitting for many years, and although I started it occasionally, it hasn't been ridden. So there are a lot of minor and not-so-minor issues (no rear brake, no clutch, non-working neutral switch, rear shock rebuild, etc), and it of course will need a pretty thorough going-through.
But September is a while away, so we'll see!
As a related aside of making a list; since my neck-of-the-woods is also uber hot in the summer, I may want to pick your brain on how your modified delrin engine temperature sensor (ETS, head temperature sensor) is still holding up, and if you still are happy with it. I think your last update was in 2014, where you were reporting it was still giving you good results.
I've been trying to remember all of the interesting and even controversial mods over the years, and reacquaint myself with them or even discovering new ones, and then put together a plan of action.
I haven't even begun to really digest the Guzzidiag part yet...
A lot to catch up on.
I only know one other guy -- and no gals (which may be a clue as to something) -- who owns Saabs and Jags. Naturally, none of these run.
Just realized that my fruitcake friend is a serious Guzzista, too.
Then, in the course of throwing these stones, I realized that I am a vintage FIAT and Studebaker aficionado.
Bill
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7 hours ago, docc said:
Weird, Al
, @al_roethlisberger,
I'm not sure anyone has ever ridden a V11 across the Appalachian Divide from North Carolina to a South'n Spine Raid.
Or even met us for lunch at the Tapoco Lodge.
The Tapoco is still in North Carolina in case those Tennessee Wants&Warrants might still be in effect . . .
BTDT numerous times, at several points, including from the Old North State.
Oh, oh.
I wondered how you think I might have gotten to Tellico from here at the top of Virginia without crossing said divide.
Then I saw the "V11" bit. My runs on the Ballabio were always north from Atlanta. Picky, picky.
Bill
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5 hours ago, CSP Rider said:
Thanks Bill! Appreciate the offer and may take you up on that. Can we affix some "V11 Support Vehicle" stickers to the Norge? Maybe matching "support" polos for you and Kathi to make it official...
We could make a very engaging 2 day run out of getting there for sure...
Regrettably -- but necessarily -- the Norge is history. Sold it last April to a young couple who love it and have added miles of smiles to its already82K.
As I have said elsewhere (and maybe even here somewhere) about that, anyone can ride a motorcycle 100+ mph, but coming to a stop sign at the top of a hill on broken pavement, two-up -- without even considering the metric tons of Kathi's stuff in our panniers and trunk (Her Grace
allows me the tank bag 
) -- is more of a challenge than, at 75+, I am willing to take with said precious passenger.
With four more Guzzis in the stable, and the EV, even at 107K miles, a reliable, safe, and pleasant pilot and pillion mount, it's not as if I am inconsolable about my plight.
So, next SSR, either we'll take the EV or Kathi will drive one of our Fits as a sag wagon.
FWIW, while hardly a fixed route -- and I have run this axis of advance to points south numerous times, I often think the most fun way to get to Princeton, at least, is to get to SR 42 to Newport, US 460 to Narrows, SR 61 to Rocky Gap, then up US 52 & (very briefly, thankfully) I-77 to Princeton.
As TR was fond of saying, "Deeelightful."
Bill
[P.S. Edited to apologize for continuing the thread drift! Best wishes on that new-to-you Guzzi. It's one of my favorites.]
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15 hours ago, Pressureangle said:
Chester Springs to the Lodge at Tellico would be an absolute epic ride.
SSR 20238 hours ago, CSP Rider said:No doubt on the epic ride from Chester Springs to Tellico Plains! There is a lot of the Blue Ridge Parkway between here and there, amongst lots of other fantastic roads along the way. I'll actually be down there in early Spring for an ADV rally on my Norden, but a September cruise down on the Goose isn't out of the question. I can't think of a more worthy scoot than a V11 to run the Cherohola Skyway...
Makes sense to me ...
Seriously, Kathi and I might take a more back-roads route than that quick Google Maps avoid-highways shot, but it's hard to get there from here by any bad roads that don't start with an "I."
Consider an overnight here before launching on the longer leg.
Bill
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3 hours ago, Joe said:
Rm 303 according to Bryan Hallmark, I am trying to get Nicole to ride down this year with me. Pretty sure I snore louder
We will be in 301 again, our "usual" for years.
We can run a decibel test this May in Kentucky and compare.
Bill
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On 1/18/2023 at 7:47 PM, Joe said:
Check, got my room close to the Koi pond🐠
That means you'll be our neighbor.
Don't snore loudly or Kathi will claim it's me.
Bill
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Enough of this Osteichthyes chatter. I am still trying to sort out which Guzzi I will straddle, and none of them will have fishing tackle aboard.
My present plan -- which as with those in the Army, is unlikely to survive first contact -- is to trailer the EV to Atlanta where Guzzi god & guru Wayne Orwig will ensure it is ready for the cross-country trip I probably won't make anyway.
I'll get it back in April or so, then ride it to Kentucky, the PNW, or just back here. Kathi
will be in Italy then PNW for almost all of May until early June, so I will be unsupervised.
So many opportunities.
If only I can find someone to mow our dandelion and ragweed farm. Seriously, the EV has lots of storage room and is the ideal mount in my moto-harem for LD missions. But, it has a leaky front tire, which I can probably fix myself. More troublingly, it also has a spark issue of some sort that is maddening. My grasp of automotive electrics is, aside from creating unintentional light shows, primitive, whereas Wayne "knows all" and is also well acquainted with my EV from our Atlanta days.
OK, back to the fishing forum.
Bill
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5 minutes ago, KINDOY2 said:
What is it?
A fish, silly.
Seriously, I'm going to go with Lake Sturgeon, but am curious, too.
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On 1/15/2023 at 10:41 AM, docc said:
Well, I still think we should loop out of The Lodge Saturday morning and take the bikes across the Cumberland River on the free ferry.
Bring yer poles, but fish fast. The river is pretty narrow up there . . .
BTDT
That's the late, great Dennis Kristof admiring -- as was quite appropriate
-- my Griso.
FWIW, the river was not narrow that day after some late spring rains.
Bill
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7 minutes ago, docc said:
I really wasn't sure this whole fishing thing wasn't off topic from the start.
But I forgot we talking Kentucky. . .
Brave talk for a Volunteer.
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1 minute ago, gstallons said:
Well ,is that your mess of fish ? You live far enough away you can tell us what you were fishing with.........maybe ?
Cherry bombs were the lures of choice when I grew up in western Kentucky.
Bill
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Just reserved "our usual room."
Bill & Kathi
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On 1/4/2023 at 9:00 PM, Joe said:
Bump…..I have the 1st cottage rented, feeling optimistic for the Spring Spine Raid. Plenty of “tech sessions” in the garage, curvy roads and BBQ. We will be staying by the lake, I’ve been researching a few fishing charters if we have anyone interested…..
Count me out of fishing ... other than from the bank.
I have hurled on almost every boat ride I've taken, whether aboard a dreadnaught or a dory, in heavy chop or on a glassy lake.
Ditto aircraft of all sorts, tail draggers to Delta One over the pond.
Heck, I was a master military parachutist back in the day, when the young(er) paratroopers had been carousing the night before
and now smoked -- yes, really -- in flight. Couple that with an NOE flight on a hot North Carolina summer's day, and I was miserable. That said, I did become quite deft, even elegant , at filling the little bag.
Apologies for the reverie of days of yore, but just reading about your fishing-charter plan made me step outside for a breath of fresh air where I recalled that ancient history.
Just in case I have not been clear enough, that would be "NOPE!"
to leaving shore.
Best,
Bill
P.S. The sKSR, followed by the Mutton Run up to Daviess County, may actually be the start of a moto-run out to the PNW in early June.
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^^^^^^^
Those enamored with faux bourbon from Lynchburg, Tullahoma, and similar Volunteer State wannabes should reflect that when folks flush their toilets -- or leave their privies!
-- in Kentucky, the results flow to Tennessee. Bill
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37 minutes ago, Tom in Virginia said:
Yes, I sure will Bill.
Being 10 hours from the Kentucky Spring Spine location, I may likely trailer and stay at campground there nearby. That is, only if I get a free pass from the boss. She is planning a trip to Bahamas with her brother/sister sometime in May and if that occurs during that weekend I will be on triple-dog duty. Anyway, it's a ways out and I will stay in touch regardless.
And yes, I would enjoy hanging with the guys at your February retreat if other duties/commitments don't prevent. I'll look more at your link and get back to you for sure. I've been admiring that gathering for quite a few years now.
Tom
Sounds good.
I'm retired Army, so I don't camp out of continuing protest.
Seriously, I always take two days for my runs to Kentucky. If taking a southerly route, usually RON at hotel in Princeton, W.V.
Stay in touch.
Emails are better for me than PM's.
Bill - wrhagan AT earthlink DOT net
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8 hours ago, Tom in Virginia said:
This event is now on my "ride radar" for spring. Following....
Tom,
I am 95% in on this, as I also have an event in Daviess County the following week.
[And, not irrelevantly, Kathi will be in Italy, thus leaving me happily unsupervised.
]
Anyway, let me know if might be in interested in riding for all or part with this Old Flatulent. If so, we can work the eaches after Epiphany.
Bill
P.S. I know Hampton isn't next door to the top of the Old Dominion, but let me know if you might have any interest in coming up for the Moto Grappa Tech Days MMXXIII in February. For more, see ...
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On 11/23/2022 at 1:54 AM, 80CX100 said:
I've been lurking on this site for a long time,only a member for the last couple of years since I got my new to me 2003 V11 Lemans VIN ZGUKTCxx73M111236
I always struggled posting images to this site, so I never entered my Lemans in the registry. Today's the day
I recently stumbled on Docc's excellent instructions on how to post images in the gallery, I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was. Once again,Tks Docc for taking such good care of us
My 2003 V11 Lemans,was originally purchased at Blackfoot Motorsports in Calgary,Alberta, Canada. The bike led a sheltered life only accumulating 6K kms., the owner & the V11 relocated to Kemptville, Ontario, Canada 6-7 yrs ago, where the bike was listed for sale, only an hour from my house.
I never actually saw the V11Lemans when it was for sale close by,although I spoke to the owner selling it many times.
Long story short, it slipped through my fingers and ended up in a living room as a display piece in Toronto Ontario, 3-4 hrs away.
I kept tabs on the bike and contacted the new owner,and through a bizarre set of circumstances,I received a phone call one day out of the blue,the owner of the V11 told me if I could get down there with cash on the weekend while his girlfriend was out of town I could buy the bike;which I did,lol.
I own 3 Tonti frame bikes,which I find much easier to work on and more organic and graceful in their design compared to the spine frames;but I've done a ton of niggly little jobs on the bike and I'm growing to love my V11,it is indeed a rocketship compared to my Tontis.
What I've come to love and appreciate about the spine frames and my V11,is learning about Dr John and his passion and dedication in it's development.
Seeing the design sketches by Marabese, adds to the provenance and my appreciation of this rolling piece of guzzi art history.
I've adjusted the MPH risers dozens of times and it's still a frustrating exercise getting just the perfect set up. I often think of Todd Haven (rip) and how choked up Mike Haven was when I dealt with him in obtaining this special piece of kit for my bike.
Pete with his Roper plate & the project by members here to get them made.
Lucky Phil's tranny improvements & shift linkage extension & Chuck stepping up to get them made and distributed.
Everyone that was involved in the shift spring development and manufacture.
It's heartwarming to know,that so many passionate people have been involved in the background in making my V11 Lemans, the special motorcycle it is.
Gratitude to Jaap's vision & dedication for giving us all this playground, so the magic can happen.
The Haven Brothers are a class act. I include Todd in the present tense because I leave my passenger pegs down on all of my machines to give rides to "selected personnel" who are no longer with us.
It always makes me grin when I recall Todd's signature line on posts and emails after he lost a lower leg: "Wherever I am, I'll always have one foot in Texas."
Now ... what's the story on that Griso in your gallery? Lovely backdrop for a grand machine.
Bill
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44 minutes ago, Joe said:
Bill
P.S. I am still licensed to practice law in Kentucky, but as an officially retired Old Flatulent and "Senior Counselor," I'm exempt from paying bar dues. If any of you end up wearing an orange suit, I can return to "active duty" for your court appearance and would only charge you those bar dues.
Good to know we will have good legal counsel at the spring South N' Spine Raid.
I did not claim "good," only inexpensive.
Bill
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I am very much interested in making May Kentucky Month -- tho the thought of any centerfolds from this bunch skeers me.
Anyway, as those who care know -- an exceedingly small group
-- I have ridden for many years twice to Kentucky annually: in late May (Memorial Day weekend) and late September for "Mutton Runs."
As I ride exclusively on entertaining backroads vice the slab, the most practical way to make both of these events is to do the sKSR first, then head up to Daviess County.
That mean$ lodging co$t$ ju$t as $everal of our 13 (ga$p) grandkid$ have birthday$. The days of those little shixes being happy with empty boxes are long gone. Moto Guzzis are my hobby; buying things for grandkids is Kathi's. As my newest Guzzi is a 2017 model, guess who spends more. 😳
The biggest impediment to being gone that long at that time of year as it's prime weed-growing season! That sounds like a joke, but I'll need to hire a bush hog instead of my zero-turn if I don't get lucky. I only wish that dandelions and the like were cash crops.
I can mooch for a few days in Eddyville with an old friend, and possibly with some other unsuspecting high-school or college friends -- tho Kathi has a no-fly list that includes a Greensburg redhead from days of yore
-- that I might lean on for free lodging between the events.
Still, a 1500-mile roundtrip -- something like the map here -- is otherwise enticing.
I sent a PM to Joe about that cabin's room, but if that is taken or all of this is in my too-hard-do box, I'll reserve a room now at the lodge and cancel if I must later.
Bill
P.S. I am still licensed to practice law in Kentucky, but as an officially retired Old Flatulent and "Senior Counselor," I'm exempt from paying bar dues. If any of you end up wearing an orange suit, I can return to "active duty" for your court appearance and would only charge you those bar dues.
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Other than riding Guzzis, of course!
Election news gets understandable first place in the media here today, but this also made our local daily, the Winchester Star! 😄
If you care, here’s a link to the “rest of the story," which even has some Guzzi content.Bill
P.S. Apropos the second part of this post's title, the newspaper reporter who wrote the story collects ... drum roll, please ... sink stoppers!
Yes, really. Has 600 of them! Made me seem darn near normal.
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Nineteenth South'n Spine Raid 2023 Tennessee USA
in Meetings, Clubs & Events
Posted
Yes, quite the place.
BTDT ... but, thankfully, not in June of '44.
Our entire 10-day tour of airborne battlefields in France, Holland, Belgium, and Grmanywas inspiring.
Touring cemeteries was sobering.
The latter visits included German ones; two of my uncles were in the Wehrmacht and my mom a physical therapist at a German military hospital in Rottweil! As a retired career U.S. Army guy that amazes even me. Stories, if you care, in May in Kentucky.
Bill